Metrorail (South Africa)

Image:X'trapolis Mega on Kalk Bay bridge Dec 2023.jpg train headed to Kalk Bay south of Cape Town]]

Metrorail is an operator of commuter rail services in the major urban areas of South Africa. It is a division of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), a state-owned enterprise which is responsible for most passenger rail services in South Africa. The Metrorail system consists of 471 stations, {{convert|2228|km}} of track, and carries an average of 1.7 million passengers per weekday.{{Cite web|url=http://www.metrorail.co.za/national_facts.html|title=Metrorail|website=www.metrorail.co.za|access-date=2017-09-01}}

Metrorail was formed in 1996 as a business unit of Transnet and was transferred to the South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC), the predecessor of PRASA. In the early-1990s Metrorail was placed under Spoornet, another business unit of Transnet but on 1 January 1997, Metrorail became an independent business within Transnet and the Metrorail regions were formed. In 2006 Metrorail was transferred back into the SARCC; in 2008 the SARCC became PRASA.

Image:Kalk Bay Station 3.jpg train pulling out of Kalk Bay station]]

Regions

Because Metrorail operates services in several separate cities, for operational purposes it is subdivided into four regions.

Image:Metrorail Gauteng.png

;Gauteng region

Previously there were two regions: Witwatersrand in the south and Tshwane in the north.

The southern area covers the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Area (also known as the Witwatersrand). Trains run from Johannesburg and Germiston outwards to Springs, Pretoria, Soweto and Randfontein via Krugersdorp.[http://www.metrorail.co.za/Regional-Wits/routes_wits.html Metrorail Regional Routes—Witwatersrand]

The northern part covers Pretoria and surrounding suburbs. Trains run from Pretoria station outwards to the various suburbs of the city, as well as southwards to Johannesburg via Kempton Park and Germiston stations (in the Witwatersrand region).[http://www.metrorail.co.za/Regional-Tshwane/routes_pta.html Metrorail Regional Routes—Tshwane]

Image:Metrorail Durban.png

;Durban region

This region covers Durban and the surrounding suburbs and towns. Trains run from Durban station outwards as far as Stanger on the north coast, Kelso on the south coast, and Cato Ridge inland.[http://www.metrorail.co.za/Regional-Durban/routes_durban.html Metrorail Regional Routes—Durban]

Image:Metrorail ooskaap.png

;Eastern Cape region

This region operates two separate lines in the Eastern Cape: one running from East London to Berlin, and one from Port Elizabeth to Uitenhage. Plans are in the pipeline to connect the service to Coega.[http://www.metrorail.co.za/Regional-EC/routes_ec.html Metrorail Regional Routes—Eastern Cape]

Image:Metrorail Cape Town.png

;Western Cape region

This region covers the Cape Town metropolitan area and surrounding towns. Trains run from Cape Town railway station southwards to Simon's Town, southeastwards to Mitchell's Plain and Khayelitsha, and eastwards through Bellville to Strand, Stellenbosch and Wellington; occasional services run to Malmesbury and Worcester.[http://www.metrorail.co.za/Regional-CT/routes_ct.html Metrorail Regional Routes—Western Cape] and [http://www.capemetrorail.co.za/_routes/Routemap_index.htm Route Map]

Track and equipment

Metrorail trains, as with the rest of the South African rail network, run on {{RailGauge|1067mm|al=on|lk=on}} track. Some routes run on track owned and operated by PRASA; other routes run on track operated by Transnet and also used for long-distance and freight trains.

Most Metrorail services are operated by electric multiple unit train sets of the domestically built 5M2A type and the Japanese-built 8M type. Since 1999, the 5M2A trains are being refurbished. Everything above the underframe is completely removed, and replaced by new, prefabricated wall and roof modules.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ucw.co.za/technical_information_modular_concept.htm|title=Class 10M4 Coach Refurbishment Programme Using the UCW Partnership's Modular Concept|website=Union Carriage & Wagon Company (Pty) Limited|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616020948/http://www.ucw.co.za/technical_information_modular_concept.htm|archive-date=2008-06-16|url-status=dead|access-date=2017-09-01}} In 2007 alone more than 300 coaches were refurbished.[http://www.sarcc.co.za/Reports/2007/Report.pdf SARCC Annual Report 2006/07]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=Thryduulf |fix-attempted=yes }} The new trains are designated 10M3 (Cape Town), 10M4 (Gauteng) or 10M5 (Durban).{{Cite web|url=http://www.sa-transport.co.za/trains/sa_electric/emu/emu.html|title=Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) Class 6M - 8M - 10M3 - 10M5 Photos|website=www.sa-transport.co.za|access-date=2017-09-01}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2006/06112211451001.htm|title=Welcome to the official South African government online site! {{!}} South African Government|website=www.info.gov.za|language=en|access-date=2017-09-01|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210025615/http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2006/06112211451001.htm|archivedate=2012-02-10}}

The Metrorail services on the Eastern Cape are operated by four diesel trains, each consisting of ten coaches and a diesel locomotive.[http://www.transport.gov.za/2010/Documents/TSCF/Rail/SARCC%20Eastern%20Cape%202010%20Operational%20Plan%20-%2011%20April%202008.ppt Eastern Cape Metrorail 2010 Operational Plan April 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206053538/http://www.transport.gov.za/2010/Documents/TSCF/Rail/SARCC%20Eastern%20Cape%202010%20Operational%20Plan%20-%2011%20April%202008.ppt |date=2008-12-06 }}

280 train sets operate on the system, each able to carry up to 1,800 passengers.[http://www.metrorail.co.za/index.html Metrorail Homepage]

In October 2013, Gibela was awarded a contract to build 600 X'Trapolis Mega EMU trainsets (3,600 cars), the first half of a multi-phase rolling stock renewal program that would see up to 1,200 new trainsets delivered by the 2030s.{{cite web | url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/news/africa/single-view/view/prasa-and-alstom-sign-r51bn-emu-contract.html | title=PRASA and Alstom sign R51bn EMU contract | publisher=Railway Gazette International | date=14 October 2013 | accessdate=10 May 2017}}

Safety concerns

In the 2000s and 2010s, much concern was expressed about the safety of passengers on Metrorail trains, both due to crime and accidents.[http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20051209065309479C957063 IOL: Class action suit launched against Metrorail][http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20051011114154531C365819 IOL: 'Train safety, efficiency vital for 2010'] Serious incidents include murders and assaults on-board trains, several level crossing accidents,[http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20051108110815339C705387 IOL: Train derailed after collision with trailer][http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20050527080555529C578725M IOL: News for South Africa and the World] and a crash in Soweto.[http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20050714073328914C645778 IOL: Scores injured as trains crash in Soweto] An organisation called the Rail Commuters Action Group instituted a lawsuit against Metrorail and the government to force them to invest more money in security.[http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=ct20020111104055833L300629 IOL: Commuters take rail terror battle to court] The case reached the Constitutional Court, which declared that Metrorail has "an obligation to ensure that reasonable measures are taken to provide for the security of rail commuters".{{cite SAFLII |litigants=Rail Commuters Action Group v Transnet Ltd t/a Metrorail |court=ZACC |year=2004 |num=20 |date=26 November 2004 |courtname=auto}} Despite this, safety on the trains remained a dire concern.[https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/the-perilous-khayelitsha-train-line-259957 IOL: The perilous Khayelitsha train line]

Metrorail services also suffered from instances of arson of train-sets which occurred during passenger protests but not necessarily by disgruntled passengers,[http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20051110063134292C384891 IOL: Stranded passengers torch trains in Soweto] in some cases forcing the closure of lines;[http://www.metrorail.co.za/more-press.html#joint :: Metrorail - Getting South Africa To Work ::] as well as incidents of cable theft disrupting services.[http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20040624031346917C272359 IOL: Scorpions bust alleged cable theft syndicate]

In 2006, the Faure level crossing accident killed 19 people in a truck which had stalled on a level crossing.{{cite news |date=15 November 2006 |title=Train crash death toll false, say police |url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/train-crash-death-toll-false-say-police-1.303404 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605124608/http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/train-crash-death-toll-false-say-police-1.303404 |archive-date=5 June 2011 |access-date=18 November 2006 |work=Independent Online}}

= Improvement =

Investment in the 2020s saw improvements to safety and service quality across the network, attracting travellers to rail, including some of the many who had stopped relying on trains due to substandard service and safety concerns.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Prasa restores more suburban rail services |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/infrastructure/prasa-restores-more-suburban-rail-services/66370.article?adredir=1 |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Railway Gazette International |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Nowicki |first=Lucas |date=2024-04-03 |title=Cape Town commuters return to Southern Line as service improves |url=https://groundup.org.za/article/cape-town-commuters-return-to-southern-line-as-service-improves/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=GroundUp News |language=en}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20080430182330/http://www.sarcc.co.za/ SARCC website]
[http://www.metrorail.co.za/ Metrorail website]
[http://www.capemetrorail.co.za/ Metrorail Cape Town website]
[http://www.transnet.co.za/ Transnet website]
[http://www.spoornet.co.za/ Spoornet website]
[http://grela.rrpicturearchives.net/ South African Trains - A Pictorial Encyclopaedia]

Category:Transport operators of South Africa

Category:Passenger rail transport in South Africa